HIV, AIDS Act comes into effect

New Delhi: A crucial legislation for ensuring equal rights to persons affected by HIV and AIDS in getting treatment, admission in educational institutions and jobs has come into force.

The ministry of health has announced implementation of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Act through a gazette notification issued on Monday.

The Act, which received Presidential assent on April 20 last year, prohibits discrimination against such persons in accessing healthcare, getting jobs, renting accommodation, and in admission to public and private educational institutions.

The moves comes after the Delhi high court asked the Centre why it has not yet notified the law to prevent discrimination against HIV and AIDS patients despite the statute receiving Presidential assent in April last year.

Hearing a PIL that sought immediate notification of the legislation, a bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice C Hari Shankar had asked the health ministry, “You make a law and are not notifying it. Why?”. The matter was listed for hearing on November 26.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section 3 of section 1 of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017, the Central government hereby appoints the 10th day of September, 2018, as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force,” the notification read.